Apparatus and method for aggregating video streams into composite media content

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a plurality of live video streams from a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of live video streams being associated with a common event. Further aspects may include aggregating the plurality of live video streams to generate a composite video stream for presenting a selectable viewing of the common event and providing the composite video stream to a device for presentation. Additional aspects may include adjusting the composite video stream according to user generated-input to generate an adjusted composite video stream, the user-generated input corresponds to a request to adjust the presentation of the common event. Other aspects may include providing the adjusted composite video stream to the device for presentation. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/223,419 filed Jul. 29, 2016. The contents of each of the foregoingare hereby incorporated by reference into this application as if setforth herein in full.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to an apparatus and method foraggregating video streams to generate composite media content

BACKGROUND

The modern Internet includes broadband, high speed networks that cancarry large amounts of media content across networks. Further, thenetworks can include databases to store the media content. The benefitsof the high speed networks include allowing individuals to providestreaming live video from portable communication devices to others viathe networks. Further benefits include archiving the live streamingvideo for later playback.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system for aggregatingvideo streams to generate composite media content and delivering thecomposite media content to subscribers;

FIGS. 2-3 depicts illustrative embodiments of systems for deliveringcomposite media content to a device associated with a subscriber;

FIGS. 4-5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a virtual environmentgenerated from composite media content delivered to a subscriber;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method used in portionsof the system described in FIGS. 1-5 for aggregating video streams togenerate composite media content and delivering composite media contentto subscribers;

FIGS. 7-8 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services including aggregating video streams to generatecomposite media content and delivering composite media content tosubscribers;

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems to subscribe for delivery ofcomposite media content;

FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device;and

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments aggregating video streams to generate composite mediacontent, such as a composite video stream. This includes obtaining alive video stream from each of a multiple communication devicesresulting in multiple live video streams. The live video streams can beassociated with a common event. Further, the live video streams can beaggregated to generate composite video stream for presenting aselectable viewing of the common event. The composite video stream issent to a device for presentation of the common event. Further, thecomposite video stream can be adjusted according to user generated-inputreceived via a graphical user interface to generate an adjustedcomposite video stream. The adjusted composite video stream can beprovided to the device for presentation. Other embodiments are describedin the subject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a systemcomprising a processing system including a processor and a memory thatstores executable instructions that, when executed by the processingsystem, facilitate performance of operations. The operations can includeobtaining a live video streams from a plurality of communications deviceresulting in a plurality of live video streams, the plurality of livevideo streams being associated with a common event. The processingsystem can further facilitate performance of operations includingaggregating the plurality of live video streams to generate a compositevideo stream for presenting a selectable viewing of the common event. Inaddition, the processing system can facilitate performance of operationsincluding sending the composite video stream to a device forpresentation of the composite video stream of the common event at thedevice. Also, the processing system can facilitate performance ofoperations including providing a graphical user interface to the device.The graphical user interface is presented by the device with thepresentation of the common event. Also, the graphical user interfaceenables adjustment of a viewing of the common event. Further, theprocessing system can facilitate performance of operations includingreceiving user-generated input from the device. The user-generated inputcorresponds to a request to adjust the presentation of the common event.Additionally, the processing system can facilitate performance ofoperations including adjusting the composite video stream according tothe user generated-input to generate an adjusted composite video stream.Each image of the adjusted composite video stream includes a selectedobject within the common event. The processing system can alsofacilitate performance of operations including providing the adjustedcomposite video stream to the device for presentation of adjustedcomposite video stream of the common event at the device.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a machine-readablestorage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executedby a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations. The operations can include receiving a plurality of livevideo streams from a plurality of communications device, the pluralityof live video streams being associated with a common event. Theexecutable instructions can further facilitate performance of operationsaggregating the plurality of live video streams to generate a compositevideo stream for presenting a selectable viewing of the common event.The executable instructions can further facilitate the operations forgenerating a 360 degree live virtual environment from the compositevideo stream. In addition, the executable instructions can facilitateperformance of operations providing the 360 degree live virtualenvironment to a device for presentation of the 360 degree live virtualenvironment of the common event at the device. Also, the executableinstructions can facilitate performance of operations adjusting thecomposite video stream according to user generated-input to generate anadjusted composite video stream and an adjusted a 360 degree livevirtual environment responsive to receiving the user-generated inputfrom the device. The user-generated input corresponds to a request toadjust the presentation of the common event. Further, the executableinstructions can facilitate performance of operations providing theadjusted 360 degree live virtual environment to the device forpresentation of the adjusted 360 degree live virtual environment of thecommon event at the device.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure includes a method. Themethod can include obtaining, by a processing system including aprocessor, a live video stream from each of a plurality of communicationdevices resulting in a plurality of live video streams, the plurality oflive video streams being associated with a common event. The method canfurther include aggregating, by the processing system, the plurality oflive video streams to generate a composite video stream for presenting aselectable viewing of the common event. In addition, the method caninclude transmitting, by the processing system, the composite videostream to a device for presentation of the composite video stream of thecommon event at the device. Also, the method can include adjusting, bythe processing system, the composite video stream according to usergenerated-input to generate an adjusted composite video streamresponsive to receiving the user-generated input from the device. Theuser-generated input corresponds to a request to adjust the presentationof the common event. Further, the method can include providing, by theprocessing system, the adjusted composite video stream to the device forpresentation of adjusted composite video stream of the common event atthe device.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 100 foraggregating video streams to generate composite media content anddelivering the composite media content to subscribers. In one or moreembodiments, the system 100 can be used for an event 102 such as aconcert. The concert event 102 can be for a musical group with threemembers, a singer 104, guitarist 106, and bassist 108. The operator ofthe concert venue can have a fixed camera 126 and drone 122 with acamera 124 each capturing a live video stream of the concert event 102.Further, concert attendees 110, 114, and 118 each may have acommunication device 112, 116, and 120 to capture a live video stream ofthe event 102. The communication devices 112, 116, and 120 can include,but is not limited to, cameras, camera-enabled mobile phones,camera-enabled tablet computers, camera-enabled laptop computers, or anyother computing device. The captured live video streams can betransmitted to an access point 130 over a communication network 132.

In one or more embodiments, the fixed camera 126 can be communicativelycoupled to the access point via a wired connection. Further,communication devices 112, 116, and 120 as well as the camera 124 on thedrone 122 can be communicatively coupled to the access point 130wirelessly. The captured live video streams are provided to a mediacontent server 134 over communication network 132. The concert attendees110, 114, and 118 as well as the concert venue operator that controlsfixed camera 128 and the camera 124 of the drone 122 are streamingproviders for providing captured live video streams to media contentserver 134.

In one or more embodiments, prior to, during, or after the event 102,subscribers 140 and 148 can request a subscription for viewing the event102 at a commercial or residential premises. That is, the communicationdevices 112, 116, 120, 124, and 126 can provide live video streams ofthe event 102 to the media content server 134 but they can also providerecorded video streams of the event 102.

The media content server 134 can charge or cause another network device(e.g. billing server) to charge an account associated with subscribers140 and 148 for the subscription to view the event 102. Further, therequest for the subscription to view the event 102 can be part of tieredsubscription service associated with the subscribers 140 and 148.

In other embodiments, prior to event or during the event 102 mediacontent server 134 determines a streaming provider 110, 114, and 118associated with each communication device 112, 116, and 120. Further,the media content server 134, as directed by an operator of the mediacontent server 134, can provide an incentive to a streaming provider110, 114, and 118 to provide captured a live video stream of the event102. The incentive can be a discount or free subscription for viewing afuture event from the streaming provider's premises. Another incentivecan be that the media content server operator providing the streamingprovider 110, 114, and 118 access to increased bandwidth over a periodof time. An additional incentive can be monetary compensation forproviding the captured live video stream of the event 102.

In one or more embodiments, the streaming providers can send the livevideo streams from their communication devices 112, 116, 120, 124, and126 on social media server to be shared with other social media members.Further, the composite video stream and virtual environment generatedfrom the composite video stream can be sent to a social media server tobe shared with other social media members.

In one or more embodiments, the media content server 134 obtains thecaptured live video streams from communication devices 112, 116, 120,124, and 126 of event 102. Further, the media content server 143 canaggregate the captured video streams to generate a composite videostream for presenting a selectable viewing of the event 102. Inaddition, the media content server 134 sends the composite video streamto one or more devices 142 and 146 associated with subscribers 140 and148 for presentation of the composite video stream of the event 102. Insome embodiments the composite video stream is sent live or nearly inreal-time (taking into account aggregation, processing, and/ortransmission delays). In other embodiments, the live video streams arestored for later aggregation to generate a recorded composite videostream. In additional embodiments, the video streams provided by thecommunication devices 112, 116, 120, 124, and 126 are recorded bystreaming providers and are aggregated by the media content server 134to generate a recorded composite video stream.

In one or more embodiments, the composite video stream can be deliveredto a device 142 over communication network 136 to access point 138.Device 142 can be communicatively coupled wirelessly or via a wiredconnection to access point 138. Further, the device 142 can be a displaythat can present standard definition or high definition televisionsignals as well as two dimensional or three dimensional media content(e.g. image or video content) to a subscriber 140. In addition, thedevice 142 can be a display that can provide holographic images or avirtual reality environment (e.g. 360 degree live virtual environment)to subscriber 140.

In one or more embodiments, the composite video stream can be deliveredto a device 146 over a communication network 136 to an access point 144.The device 146 can be communicatively coupled wirelessly or via a wiredconnection to an access point 144. Further, the device 146 can be avirtual reality headset that displays holographic or a virtual realityenvironment (e.g. 360 degree live virtual environment) to a subscriber148.

In one or more embodiments, prior to delivering the composite videostream to devices 142 and 146, the media content server 134 can send thedevices 142 and 146 each a request for their respective presentationcapability or range of presentation capabilities (e.g. standarddefinition, high definition, ultra-high definition television signals,two dimensional/three dimensional media content, holographic images, andvirtual reality environment). The devices 142 and 146 provide a responseto the request, the response can include the devices 142 and 146presentation capabilities or range of presentation capabilities. Theresponse can be in the form of a message or signal. In addition, themedia content server 134 can periodically poll the devices 142 and 146for their presentation capabilities and receive a response from thedevices 142 and 146 to detect the presentation capabilities of thedevices 142 and 146.

In one or more embodiments, the media content server 134 can provideeach device 142 and 146 a graphical user interface to be presented withthe presentation of event 102. The graphical user interface enablesadjustment of a viewing of the event 102. In some embodiments, eachdevice 142 and 146 can be communicatively coupled to one or more inputdevices. Prior the providing the graphical user interface, the mediacontent server 134 can send the devices 142 and 146 each a request forthe types of input devices coupled to the devices 142 and 146. Thedevices 142 and 146 can provide a response to the request, the responsecan include the type of input devices coupled to device 142 and 146. Theresponse can be in the form of a message or signal. In addition, themedia content server 134 can periodically poll the devices 142 and 146to provide the type of input devices coupled to them and receive aresponse from the device 142 and 146 to detect the input devices coupledto devices 142 and 146, accordingly. For example, the device 142 cancoupled to input devices including a keyboard, mouse, game controller,joystick, touchscreen, voice recognition, etc. Thus, the media contentserver 134 can provide a graphical user interface that can accept inputfrom such input devices. As another example, the device 146 can becoupled to input devices such as finger wearing gesture detectingsensors, sensors on a virtual reality headset 146 that detect head andbody movement. Hence, the media content server 134 can provide agraphical user interface that can accept input from such input devices.

In or more embodiments, the media content server 134 can receive usergenerated input via the graphical user interface to generate an adjustedcomposite video stream. Further, the adjusted composite video stream canbe provided by the media content server 134 to the devices 142 and 146for presentation. The adjusted composite video stream can be live (ornearly real-time taking into account to aggregation, adjustment, andtransmission delays) or a buffered/recorded video stream.

FIGS. 2-3 depict illustrative embodiments of a system 200 and 300 fordelivering composite media content 202 such as a composite video streamto a device 142 associated with a subscriber 140. Further, the compositevideo stream can be displayed according to one of the presentationcapabilities of the device 142 that can include standard definition,high definition, ultra-high definition television signals, twodimensional/three dimensional media content, holographic images, andvirtual reality environment. In addition, a subscriber 140 can view theconcert event 102 of the musical group including the singer 104,guitarist 106, and bassist 108. Also, the device 142 can present agraphical user interface provided by the media content server 134depending on the type of input devices communicatively coupled to thedevice 142. For example, the device 142 can have a touchscreen that isan input device. The graphical user interface presented with thecomposite video stream 202 can be compatible to receiving input from atouchscreen. Moreover, the subscriber 140 may desire to see a differentview of the composite video stream 202. For example, the subscriber maydesire to see a magnified view of the singer 104. Further, the displayof 142 can be enabled with touchscreen input capability such that thesubscriber 144 can touch the display near the image of the singer 104and use a gesture to magnify or otherwise adjust the image. Thus, thegesture input is detected by the touchscreen and recognized as an inputto adjust or magnify portion of the composite video stream duringpresentation. Such input can be delivered to the media content server134.

Referring to FIG. 3, the media content server 134 can receive input fromthe subscriber 140, adjust the composite video stream according to theinput, and provide the adjusted composite video stream 302 forpresentation at the device 142. For example, device 142 can havetouchscreen capability. The subscriber 144 can touch the display nearthe image of the singer 104 and use a gesture to magnify or otherwiseadjust the image. Thus, the gesture input is detected by the touchscreenand recognized as an input to adjust or magnify portion of the compositevideo stream during presentation. Such input can be delivered to themedia content server 134. Further, the media content server 134 canadjust the composite video stream according to the input. That is, themedia content server 134 can adjust the composite video stream to be anadjusted composite stream that includes a magnified or adjusted view ofthe singer 104 of the concert event 104. The adjusted composite video isprovided to the device 142. In addition, the device 142 presents theadjusted composite video stream 302. The device 142 can be configured orinstructions can be given, either by input provided by the subscriber orby the media content server 134 to replace the composite video stream202 with the adjusted composite video stream. Alternatively, the device142 can be configured or instructions can be given, either by inputprovided by the subscriber or by the media content server 134 to overlaythe adjusted composite video stream 302 onto the composite video stream202. This type of presentation can be called a picture-in-picturepresentation with the adjusted composite video stream 302 overlaid onthe composite video stream 202. Further, the adjusted composite videostream 302 can be presented side-by-side with the composite videostream.

In one or more embodiments, the subscriber 140 can use the touchscreeninput device of device 142 to magnify or adjust the view of two membersof the musical group (e.g. singer 104 and guitarist 106) using one ormore gestures while contacting the display. That is, the subscriberprovides one input to magnify or adjust the view of one group member andanother input to magnify or adjust the view of another group member.Thus, the device 142 provides the media content server 134 with bothinputs, and the media content server 134 adjusts the composite videostream in two different ways, one according to the first input and oneaccording to a second input. Thereafter, the media content server 134can generate two adjusted composite video streams each according to aninput. Further, the media content server 134 can generate multipleadjusted composited video streams responsive to multiple inputs.

In some embodiments, the media content server 134 can provide themultiple adjusted composite video streams to the device 142. Inaddition, the device 142 can present the multiple adjusted compositevideo streams side-by-side. Further, one adjusted composite video streamcan be overlaid on another adjusted composite video stream. In addition,the multiple adjusted composite video streams can be overlaid on the(unadjusted) composite video stream.

In one or more embodiments, the media content server 134 aggregates thelive video streams provided by communication devices 112, 116, 120, 124,and 126. The media content server 134 can select a portion of the livevideo streams from communication devices 112, 116, 120, 124, and 126 toaggregate to generate the composite video stream. For example, two ormore communication devices may provide the same or similar perspectiveof the event 102 such that aggregating the both into the composite videostream add marginal value. Further, one of the streaming providers mayrequest a higher value incentive than another streaming provider. Thus,the media content server 134 may choose to aggregate the live videostream from a communication device associated with a streaming providerthat requests a lower value incentive if both live video streams arefrom similar perspectives of the event 102. In addition, thecommunication devices that provide live video streams with similarperspectives of the event 102 may have captured the live video streamwith different resolution or presentation capabilities. Thus, the mediacontent server 134 may select live video streams among those withsimilar perspectives that have resolution and presentation capabilitiesthat are compatible with devices 142 and 146 or those with the highestresolution or presentation capabilities.

In one or more embodiments, in response to a request to adjust thecomposite video stream, the media content server 134 can select aportion of live video streams from communication devices 112, 116, 120,124, and 126 to aggregate to generate the adjusted composite videostream. In some embodiments, each image of the adjusted composite videostream can includes an image of the selected moving object. In otherembodiments, the request for adjusting the composite video stream can befor an adjusted or magnified view of the singer 104 of the concert event102. Thus, the live video streams from communication devices 116 and 124can provide a live video streams that include a magnified view of thesinger 104, for example. Further, the media content server 134 can useimage processing techniques on the collected live video streams from anyor all the communication devices 112, 116, 120, 124, and 126 toaggregate and generate both the composite video stream and adjustedcomposite video stream. That is, for example, the media content server134 can implement image processing techniques to aggregate and generatea magnified view of the singer 104 from the live video streams collectedfrom communication devices 116 and 124.

FIGS. 4-5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a virtual environmentgenerated from composite media content delivered to a subscriber.Referring to FIG. 4, the media content server 134 generates a virtualenvironment (e.g. a 360 degree, live virtual environment, recordedvirtual environment, etc.) from the composite video stream and deliversthe virtual environment to device 146, which can be a virtual realityheadset 146. The subscriber 148 can view the virtual reality environmentfrom the composite video stream such that the subscriber feels that sheis onstage next to the singer 104 and bassist 108 of the musical group.Referring to FIG. 5, the subscriber 148 can move around her location(e.g. a room in her house) to adjust the virtual reality environmentgenerated from the composite video stream. Sensors that detect movementand head orientation of the subscriber 148 are input devices of thevirtual reality headset 146. The sensors can detect that the subscriber148 has moved her location to have a closer, magnified, or otherwiseadjusted view of the guitarist 106 (i.e. the selected object). The inputsensor information is provided to the media content server 134. Further,the media content server 134 adjusts the composite video streamaccording to the input sensor information and generates an adjustedvirtual reality environment such that the subscriber 148 can view thestage area between the singer 104 and the guitarist 106 through thevirtual reality headset 146. In some embodiments, each image of theadjusted virtual reality environment can include an image of theguitarist 106 (i.e. selected object).

Although some embodiments described herein discuss an event 102 to be aconcert event, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understandthat the embodiments can also apply to any event. For example, at a carracing event, the composite video stream can be aggregated from multiplevideo streams, each of which can be from a communication deviceassociated with a racing event attendee or a receiving venue. Further, asubscriber to the composite video stream of the car racing event canselect a magnified or adjusted view of a particular race car (e.g. carno. 95) and adjust the composite video stream to provide a magnified oradjusted view of car no. 95 to the subscriber, accordingly. Thus, thesubscriber can track car no. 95 individually from all the other carsparticipating in the racing event. In another example, at a footballevent, the composite video stream can be aggregated from multiple videostreams, each of which can be from a communication device associatedwith a football game attendee or a game venue. Further, a subscriber tothe composite video stream can select a magnified or adjusted view of aplayer (e.g. wide receiver) or object (e.g. football) and adjust thecomposite video stream to provide a magnified or adjusted view of playeror object to the subscriber, accordingly. Thus, the subscriber can trackthe movements of the wide receiver individually from all the otherplayers participating in the football game.

Other embodiments can include a security system for a public venue. Forexample, a security system for a football stadium may have multiplefixed and portable cameras that are within and surround the footballstadium, controlled and managed by a stadium operator. Multiple livevideo streams from the multiple fixed and portable surveillance camerascan be sent to a security control room and a computer server canaggregate the live video streams to generate and present a compositevideo stream to displays in the security control room of a stadium.Security personnel can identify an attendee to a stadium event as asuspicious person. Further, security personnel can direct the securitysystem to adjust the composite video stream to view the suspiciousperson. That is, the composite video stream is adjusted to track themovements of the suspicious person within and surrounding the stadiumusing a portion of the multiple video streams from the surveillancecameras.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method 600 used inportions of the system described in FIGS. 1-5 for aggregating videostreams into composite media content and delivering composite mediacontent to subscribers. At step 602, a media content server 134 receivesa request for a subscription for viewing an event from a device 142 and146 associated with a subscriber 140 and 148 at a commercial orresidential premises. The request for a subscription can be made at atime prior to the start, during, or after the event. Requesting asubscription can also include registering one or more presentationdevices 142 and 146 from which a subscriber 140 and 148 may like to viewthe requested event. Further, the request for subscription may be inconjunction with subscribing for other services such as, but not limitedto, cable television service, satellite television service, landlinetelephone service, Internet service, video on demand service,teleconferencing, and video conferencing subscribed by the subscriber140 and 148. Thus, the request for a subscription can be made at thesame time as subscribing to these other services or a portion of theseservices. In addition, the request for the subscription to view theevent 102 can be part of tiered subscription service associated with thesubscribers 140 and 148.

At step 604, the media content server 134 can charge or cause anothernetwork device (e.g. billing server) to charge an account associatedwith subscribers 140 and 148 for the subscription to view the event 102.Such an account can be a stand-alone account associated with thesubscriber 140 and 148 for the composite video stream or an accountassociated with the subscriber 140 and 148 for any other services suchas, but not limited to, cable television service, satellite televisionservice, landline telephone service, Internet service, video on demandservice, teleconferencing, and video conferencing.

At step 606, prior to, during, or after the event 102, media contentserver 134 determines a streaming provider 110, 114, and 118 associatedwith each communication device 112, 116, and 120. Further, at step 608,the media content server 134, as directed by an operator of the mediacontent server 134, can provide an incentive to a streaming provider110, 114, and 118 to provide a captured video stream of the event 102.The incentive can be a discount or free subscription for viewing afuture event. Another incentive can be that the media content serveroperator provides the streaming provider 110, 114, and 118 access toincreased bandwidth over a period of time. An additional incentive canbe monetary compensation for providing the captured video stream of theevent 102. Also, the media content server operator can provide adiscount to other services subscribed by the streaming provider underthe control of the operator such as, but not limited to, cabletelevision service, satellite television service, landline telephoneservice, Internet service, video on demand service, teleconferencing,and video conferencing.

At step 610, the media content server 134 receives the multiple livevideo streams from multiple of communication devices, the live videostreams being associated with a common event 102. In one example, themedia content server receives a live video stream from each of themultiple communication devices. Further, at step 612, the media contentserver 134 can aggregate the live video streams to generate a compositevideo stream for presenting a selectable viewing of the common event102.

At step 614, the media content server 134 detects a presentationcapability of the device 142 and 146 such that the media content server134 can aggregate the video streams to generate the composite videostream according to the presentation capability of the device. Detectingthe presentation capability of device 142 and 146 can include the mediacontent server 134 sending devices 142 and 146 each a request for theirrespective presentation capability or range of presentation capabilities(e.g. standard definition, high definition, ultra-high definitiontelevision signals, two dimensional/three dimensional media content,holographic images, and virtual reality environment). The devices 142and 146 provides a response to the request, the response include thedevices 142 and 146 presentation capabilities or range of presentationcapabilities. The response can be in the form of a message or signal. Inaddition, the media content server 134 can periodic poll the devices 142and 146 for their presentation capabilities and receive a response fromthe device 142 and 146 to detect the presentation capabilities ofdevices 142 and 146.

At step 616, media content server 134 sends the composite video streamto a device for presentation of the composite video stream of the commonevent at the device 142 and 146.

At step 618, the media content server 134 detects the types of inputdevice associated with the device. The media content server 134 can senddevices 142 and 146 each a request for the types of input devicesassociated with the devices 142 and 146. The devices 142 and 146provides a response to the request, the response can include the devices142 and 146 type of input devices coupled to device 142 and 146. Theresponse can also be in the form of a message or signal. In addition,the media content server 134 can periodically poll the devices 142 and146 to provide the type of input devices coupled to them and receive aresponse from the device 142 and 146 to detect the input devices coupledto devices 142 and 146, accordingly. For example, device 142 can coupledto input devices including a keyboard, mouse, game controller, joystick,touchscreen, voice recognition device, etc.

At step 620, the media content server 134 can provide a graphical userinterface to the device. The graphical user interface is presented bythe device with the presentation of the common event 102 and thegraphical user interface enables adjustment of a viewing of the commonevent. Further, the media content server 134 can provide a graphicaluser interface that can accept input from the detected input devicesassociated with devices 142 and 146. As another example, device 146 canbe coupled to input devices such as finger wearing gesture detectingsensors, sensors on a virtual reality headset 146 that detect head andbody movement. Hence, the media content server 134 can provide agraphical user interface that can accept input from such input devices.

At step 622, media content server 134 receives user-generated input fromthe device 142 and 146 based on a selection provided via the graphicaluser interface. The user-generated input corresponds to a request toadjust the presentation of the common event 102 and can be provided viaone of the detected input devices associated with the device 142 and146.

At step 624, the media content server 134 adjusts the composite videostream according to the user generated-input to generate an adjustedcomposite video stream, and step 626, the media content server 134provides the adjusted composite video stream to the device 142 and 146for presentation of adjusted composite video stream of the common event102 at the device 142 and 146.

Further, the providing the graphical user interface includes providing alist of selectable moving objects 104, 106, and 108 (e.g. the singer,guitarist, and bassist) within the common event 102, and receiving ofthe user-generated input from the device can include receiving aselected moving object 104 from the list of selectable moving objects104, 106, and 108 within the common event 102.

In addition, adjusting of the composite video stream according to theuser-generated input can include identifying a portion of the videostreams that shows the selected moving object and aggregating theportion of the video streams to generate the adjusted composite videostream. Each image of the adjusted composite video stream can include animage of the selected moving object. The adjusted composite video streamprovides an adjusted or magnified view of the selected moving object(e.g. singer 104), for example. In some embodiments, the adjustedcomposite video stream can track the movements of the selected movingobject as well as provide a magnified view.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 6, it isto be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is notlimited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 400 for delivering media content. The communication system 700can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media system.Communication system 700 can be overlaid or operably coupled with system100 of FIG. 1 as another representative embodiment of communicationsystem 700. For instance, one or more devices illustrated in thecommunication system 700 of FIG. 7 such as media content servers 730 canbe media content servers as described herein as media content server 134in FIG. 1. The media content servers 730 can implement softwarefunctions 762 to obtain live video streams from communication devices716. The live video streams can be associated with a common event 102.Software functions 766 can assist communication devices 716 to captureand deliver video streams of the event 102 to the media content servers730 over a cellular network 717 and other communication networks 718 and732. The software functions 762 can aggregate the video streams togenerate a composite video stream for presenting a selectable viewing ofthe common event 102. Further, the media content servers 730 can sendthe composite video stream to a device 706 and 708 associated with asubscriber for presentation of the composite video stream of the commonevent at the devices 706 and 708. Software functions 764 can assist inreceiving and presenting the presentation of the composite video streamat devices 706 and 708. In addition, the media content servers 730provide a graphical user interface to the devices 706 and 708. Thegraphical user interface is presented by the devices 706 and 708 withthe presentation of the common event 102. Also, the graphical userinterface enables adjustment of a viewing of the common event. The mediacontent servers 730 receive user-generated input from at least one ofthe devices 706 and 708. The user-generated input corresponds to arequest to adjust the presentation of the common event. Further, themedia content servers 730 with software functions 762 adjust thecomposite video stream according to the user generated-input to generatean adjusted composite video stream. In addition, the media contentservers 730 provide the adjusted composite video stream to the devices706 and 708 for presentation of adjusted composite video stream of thecommon event at the devices 706 and 708.

The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO) 710 withat least one super headend office server (SHS) 711 which receives mediacontent from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In thepresent context, media content can represent, for example, audiocontent, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games,virtual reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof.The SHS server 711 can forward packets associated with the media contentto one or more video head-end servers (VHS) 714 via a network of videohead-end offices (VHO) 712 according to a multicast communicationprotocol.

The VHS 714 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 718 to commercial and/or residential buildings 702 housing agateway 704 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 718 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 719 to buildings 702. The gateway 704 can usecommunication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 706 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 708 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 707 (such as aninfrared or RF remote controller).

The gateway 704, the media processors 706, and media devices 708 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, or other presentor next generation local or personal area wireless network technologies.By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 706 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 729 can be used in the mediasystem of FIG. 7. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 700. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 715 that include mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 731 coupled to thebuilding 702. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver731 can be transferred to the media processors 406 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 708. The media processors 706 can be equipped with a broadbandport to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 732 to enableinteractive services such as VoD and EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 733 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system700. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 733 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services. System 700 enablesvarious types of interactive television and/or services including IPTV,cable and/or satellite.

The subject disclosure can apply to other present or next generationover-the-air and/or landline media content services system.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 730, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over the ISP network 732 towireline media devices 708 or wireless communication devices 716.

Communication system 700 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 730 to function as a media content server 730 (hereinreferred to as media content server 730). The media content server 730can use computing and communication technology to perform function 762,which can include among other things, the generation techniquesdescribed by method 600 of FIG. 6. For instance, function 762 of server730 can be similar to the functions described for server 134 of FIG. 1in accordance with method 600. The media processors 706 and wirelesscommunication devices 716 can be provisioned with software functions 764and 766, respectively, to utilize the services of media content servers730. For instance, functions 764 and 766 of media processors 706 andwireless communication devices 716 can be similar to the functionsdescribed for the communication devices 112, 116, 120, 124, and 126 aswell as devices 142 and 146 of FIG. 1 in accordance with method 600.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 717 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless access networktechnologies can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure. FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communicationsystem 800 employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networkarchitecture to facilitate the combined services of circuit-switched andpacket-switched systems. Communication system 800 can be overlaid oroperably coupled with system 100 of FIG. 1 and communication system 700as another representative embodiment of communication system 700.

The media content server 730 can implement software functions 762 toobtain live video streams from communication devices 805 and 895. Thelive video streams can be associated with a common event 102. Softwarefunctions 872 can assist communication devices 805 and 895 to captureand deliver video streams of the event 102 to the media content servers730 over a cellular network 521 and other communication networks 860.The software functions 762 can aggregate the video streams to generate acomposite video stream for presenting a selectable viewing of the commonevent 102. Further, the media content servers 730 can send the compositevideo stream to a device 802 associated with a subscriber forpresentation of the composite video stream of the common event at thedevice 802. Software functions 864 can assist in receiving andpresenting the presentation of the composite video stream at device 802.In addition, the media content server 730 can provide a graphical userinterface to the device 802. The graphical user interface is presentedby the device 802 with the presentation of the common event 102. Also,the graphical user interface enables adjustment of a viewing of thecommon event. The media content server 730 receives user-generated inputfrom at least one of the device 802. The user-generated inputcorresponds to a request to adjust the presentation of the common event.Further, the media content server 730 with software functions 762adjusts the composite video stream according to the user generated-inputto generate an adjusted composite video stream and provide the adjustedcomposite video stream to the device 802 for presentation of adjustedcomposite video stream of the common event at the device 802.

Communication system 800 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)840, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 830, and other networkelements of an IMS network 850. The IMS network 850 can establishcommunications between IMS-compliant communication devices (CDs) 801,802, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 803, 805, andcombinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)820 coupled to a PSTN network 860. The MGCF 820 need not be used when acommunication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 820.

IMS CDs 801, 802 can register with the IMS network 850 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 840. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 801 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 804 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF806. The originating S-CSCF 806 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 817 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 817 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 806 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 506 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 830 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 807 to submit a query to the HSS 840 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 814 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 802. Once identified, the I-CSCF 507 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 814. The terminating S-CSCF814 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 816 associated with theterminating CD 802. The P-CSCF 816 may then signal the CD 802 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 8 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 800 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 800 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 801, 802with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system 700 ofFIG. 7.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD803 or CD 805 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 830 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 806 to forward the call to the MGCF 820 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 819. The MGCF 820 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 860 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 8 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 8 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 821, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) baseunit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establishcommunications with the IMS network 850 of FIG. 8. The cellular accessbase station 821 can operate according to common wireless accessprotocols such as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on.Other present and next generation wireless network technologies can beused by one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. Accordingly,multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies can be used bythe CDs of FIG. 8.

Cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched voice andpacket-switched data communications and thus may operate asIMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular basestation 821 may communicate directly with the IMS network 850 as shownby the arrow connecting the cellular base station 821 and the P-CSCF816.

Alternative forms of a CSCF can operate in a device, system, component,or other form of centralized or distributed hardware and/or software.Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as a respective CSCF systemhaving one or more computers or servers, either centralized ordistributed, where each computer or server may be configured to performor provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionalitydescribed herein in accordance with a respective CSCF. Likewise, otherfunctions, servers and computers described herein, including but notlimited to, the HSS, the ENUM server, the BGCF, and the MGCF, can beembodied in a respective system having one or more computers or servers,either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may beconfigured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step,or functionality described herein in accordance with a respectivefunction, server, or computer.

The media content servers 730 of FIG. 7 can be operably coupled tocommunication system 800 for purposes similar to those described above.Media content servers 730 can perform function 762 and thereby providecomposite video stream services of and event 102 to the CDs 802 of FIG.8 similar to the functions described for server 134 of FIG. 1 inaccordance with method 600 of FIG. 6. CD 802, which can be adapted withsoftware to perform function 874 to utilize the services of the mediacontent server 730 similar to the functions described for communicationdevices 142 and 146 of FIG. 1 in accordance with method 600 of FIG. 6.Media content server 730 can be an integral part of the applicationserver(s) 817 performing function 874, which can be substantiallysimilar to function 762 and adapted to the operations of the IMS network850.

For illustration purposes only, the terms S-CSCF, P-CSCF, I-CSCF, and soon, can be server devices, but may be referred to in the subjectdisclosure without the word “server.” It is also understood that anyform of a CSCF server can operate in a device, system, component, orother form of centralized or distributed hardware and software. It isfurther noted that these terms and other terms such as DIAMETER commandsare terms can include features, methodologies, and/or fields that may bedescribed in whole or in part by standards bodies such as 3^(rd)Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It is further noted that some orall embodiments of the subject disclosure may in whole or in partmodify, supplement, or otherwise supersede final or proposed standardspublished and promulgated by 3GPP.

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 902 of acommunication system 900. Communication system 900 can be overlaid oroperably coupled with system 100 of FIG. 1, communication system 700,and/or communication system 800 as another representative embodiment ofsystem 100 of FIG. 1, communication system 700, and/or communicationsystem 800. The web portal 902 can be used for managing services ofsystem 100 of FIG. 1 and communication systems 700-800. A web page ofthe web portal 902 can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)with an Internet browser using an Internet-capable communication devicesuch as those described in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 7-8. The web portal 902 canbe configured, for example, to access a media processor 706 and servicesmanaged thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video onDemand (VoD) catalog, an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or apersonal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audio recordings,etc.) stored at the media processor 706. The web portal 902 can also beused for provisioning IMS services described earlier, provisioningInternet services, provisioning cellular phone services, and so on.

The web portal 902 can further be utilized to manage and provisionsoftware application 762 to adapt this applications as may be desired bysubscribers and/or service providers of system 100 of FIG. 1, andcommunication systems 700-800. For instance, subscribers of the servicesprovided by server 134 or server 730 can log into their on-line accountsand provision the server 134 or 730 with a subscription service fordelivering a composite video stream for an event. Further, thesubscriber may register for such a streaming service when subscribing toother services such as, but not limited to, cable television service,satellite television service, landline telephone service, Internetservice, video on demand service, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing. In addition, the subscriber can subscribe to the streamingservice as part of a tiered service. Also, the subscriber can access theportal 902 to manage an account associated with the streaming service.In other embodiments, a streaming provider 110, 114, and 118 can use theportal to indicate that the streaming provider will deliver a videostream of an event in exchange for an incentive. The portal 902 canpresent a list of electable incentives from which the streaming providercan select. The incentive can be a discount or free subscription forviewing a future event from the streaming provider's premises. Anotherincentive can be that the media content server operator can provide thestreaming provider 110, 114, and 118 access to increased bandwidth overa period of time. An additional incentive can be monetary compensationfor providing the captured live video stream of the event 102. Also, themedia content server operator can provide a discount to other servicessubscribed by the streamlining provider under the control of theoperator such as, but not limited to, cable television service,satellite television service, landline telephone service, Internetservice, video on demand service, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing.

Service providers can log onto an administrator account to provision,monitor and/or maintain the system 100 of FIG. 1 or server 134 or 730.

FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device1000. Communication device 1000 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 7-8and can be configured to perform portions of method 600 of FIG. 6.

Communication device 1000 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 1002 (herein transceiver 1002), a user interface (UI) 1004,a power supply 1014, a location receiver 1016, a motion sensor 1018, anorientation sensor 1020, and a controller 1006 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 1002 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 1002 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 1004 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 1008with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse,or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communicationdevice 1000. The keypad 1008 can be an integral part of a housingassembly of the communication device 1000 or an independent deviceoperably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USBcable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. Thekeypad 1008 can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones,and/or a QWERTY keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 1004 can furtherinclude a display 1010 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable displaytechnology for conveying images to an end user of the communicationdevice 1000. In an embodiment where the display 1010 is touch-sensitive,a portion or all of the keypad 1008 can be presented by way of thedisplay 1010 with navigation features.

The display 1010 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 1000 can be adapted to present a user interfacewith graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The touch screen display 1010 can beequipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technologyto detect how much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on aportion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can beused to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functionsof the user interface. The display 1010 can be an integral part of thehousing assembly of the communication device 1000 or an independentdevice communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface(such as a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 1004 can also include an audio system 1012 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 1012 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 1012 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI1004 can further include an image sensor 1013 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 1014 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 1000 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable applications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 1016 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 1000 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor1018 can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 1000 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 1020 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device1000 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 1000 can use the transceiver 1002 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 1006 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 1000.

Other components not shown in FIG. 10 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 1000 can include a reset button (not shown). The reset button canbe used to reset the controller 1006 of the communication device 1000.In yet another embodiment, the communication device 1000 can alsoinclude a factory default setting button positioned, for example, belowa small hole in a housing assembly of the communication device 1000 toforce the communication device 1000 to re-establish factory settings. Inthis embodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen orpaper clip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default settingbutton. The communication device 1000 can also include a slot for addingor removing an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card. SIM cards can be used for identifying subscriber services,executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so forth.

The communication device 1000 as described herein can operate with moreor less of the circuit components shown in FIG. 10. These variantembodiments can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

The communication device 1000 can be adapted to perform the functions ofdevices of FIG. 1 such as devices 112, 116, 220, 124, 126, 142, and 146,the media processor 706, the media devices 708, or the portablecommunication devices 716 of FIG. 7, as well as the IMS CDs 802 and PSTNCDs 805 and 895 of FIG. 8. It will be appreciated that the communicationdevice 1000 can also represent other devices that can operate in system100 of FIG. 1, communication systems 700-800 of FIGS. 7-8 such as agaming console and a media player. In addition, the controller 1006 canbe adapted in various embodiments to perform the functions 762 and872-874, respectively.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope of theclaims described below. For example, a person of ordinary skill in theart can combine embodiments or portions of embodiments without departingfrom the scope of the claims. Other embodiments can be used in thesubject disclosure.

It should be understood that devices described in the exemplaryembodiments can be in communication with each other via various wirelessand/or wired methodologies. The methodologies can be links that aredescribed as coupled, connected and so forth, which can includeunidirectional and/or bidirectional communication over wireless pathsand/or wired paths that utilize one or more of various protocols ormethodologies, where the coupling and/or connection can be direct (e.g.,no intervening processing device) and/or indirect (e.g., an intermediaryprocessing device such as a router).

FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 1100 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods described above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the media content server 134 or 730, thecommunication devices 112, 116, 120, 124, 126, 142, 146, 716, 706, 708,805, 895, and 802 and other devices of FIGS. 1-10. That is the machinecan capture video streams of an event 102 and deliver those videostreams to a media content server 1234 or 730. Further, the machine canbe a media content server 134 or 730 that aggregates multiple videostreams to generate a composite video stream. The media content server134 or 730 can send the composite video stream with a graphical userinterface to a device to present the composite video stream. Also, themedia content server 134 or 730 can receive user input to adjust thecomposite video stream and send the composite video stream to a deviceto present the adjusted composite video stream. In addition, the machinecan be a device that presents or causes to present the composite videostream or the adjusted composite video stream such as devices 142, 146,706, and 708. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g.,using a network 1126) to other machines. In a networked deployment, themachine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machinein a server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the subject disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 1100 may include a processor (or controller) 1102(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit(GPU, or both), a main memory 1104 and a static memory 1106, whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 1108. The computer system 1100 mayfurther include a display unit 1110 (e.g., a liquid crystal display(LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state display). The computer system 1100may include an input device 1112 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 1114 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1116, a signal generationdevice 1118 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 1120. In distributed environments, the embodiments described inthe subject disclosure can be adapted to utilize multiple display units1110 controlled by two or more computer systems 1100. In thisconfiguration, presentations described by the subject disclosure may inpart be shown in a first of the display units 1110, while the remainingportion is presented in a second of the display units 1110.

The disk drive unit 1116 may include a tangible computer-readablestorage medium 1122 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions(e.g., software 1124) embodying any one or more of the methods orfunctions described herein, including those methods illustrated above.The instructions 1124 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 1104, the static memory 1106, and/or within theprocessor 1102 during execution thereof by the computer system 1100. Themain memory 1104 and the processor 1102 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Application specific integrated circuits andprogrammable logic array can use downloadable instructions for executingstate machines and/or circuit configurations to implement embodiments ofthe subject disclosure. Applications that may include the apparatus andsystems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronicand computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two ormore specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with relatedcontrol and data signals communicated between and through the modules,or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, theexample system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, theoperations or methods described herein are intended for operation assoftware programs or instructions running on or executed by a computerprocessor or other computing device, and which may include other formsof instructions manifested as a state machine implemented with logiccomponents in an application specific integrated circuit or fieldprogrammable gate array. Furthermore, software implementations (e.g.,software programs, instructions, etc.) including, but not limited to,distributed processing or component/object distributed processing,parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. Distributedprocessing environments can include multiple processors in a singlemachine, single processors in multiple machines, and/or multipleprocessors in multiple machines. It is further noted that a computingdevice such as a processor, a controller, a state machine or othersuitable device for executing instructions to perform operations ormethods may perform such operations directly or indirectly by way of oneor more intermediate devices directed by the computing device.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 1122 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe subject disclosure. The term “non-transitory” as in a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage includes without limitation memories, drives,devices and anything tangible but not a signal per se.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth®, WiFi, Zigbee®), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) can be used bycomputer system 1100. In one or more embodiments, information regardinguse of services can be generated including services being accessed,media consumption history, user preferences, and so forth. Thisinformation can be obtained by various methods including user input,detecting types of communications (e.g., video content vs. audiocontent), analysis of content streams, and so forth. The generating,obtaining and/or monitoring of this information can be responsive to anauthorization provided by the user.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Theexemplary embodiments can include combinations of features and/or stepsfrom multiple embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized and derivedtherefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figuresare also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certainproportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

Less than all of the steps or functions described with respect to theexemplary processes or methods can also be performed in one or more ofthe exemplary embodiments. Further, the use of numerical terms todescribe a device, component, step or function, such as first, second,third, and so forth, is not intended to describe an order or functionunless expressly stated so. The use of the terms first, second, thirdand so forth, is generally to distinguish between devices, components,steps or functions unless expressly stated otherwise. Additionally, oneor more devices or components described with respect to the exemplaryembodiments can facilitate one or more functions, where the facilitating(e.g., facilitating access or facilitating establishing a connection)can include less than every step needed to perform the function or caninclude all of the steps needed to perform the function.

In one or more embodiments, a processor (which can include a controlleror circuit) has been described that performs various functions. Itshould be understood that the processor can be multiple processors,which can include distributed processors or parallel processors in asingle machine or multiple machines. The processor can be used insupporting a virtual processing environment. The virtual processingenvironment may support one or more virtual machines representingcomputers, servers, or other computing devices. In such virtualmachines, components such as microprocessors and storage devices may bevirtualized or logically represented. The processor can include a statemachine, application specific integrated circuit, and/or programmablegate array including a Field PGA. In one or more embodiments, when aprocessor executes instructions to perform “operations”, this caninclude the processor performing the operations directly and/orfacilitating, directing, or cooperating with another device or componentto perform the operations.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: obtaining a live video stream from each of aplurality of mobile phone devices resulting in a plurality of live videostreams, the plurality of live video streams being associated with acommon event, wherein each mobile phone device of the plurality ofmobile phone devices is camera-enabled; aggregating the plurality oflive video streams to generate a composite video stream for presentingthe common event; sending the composite video stream to a communicationdevice for a first presentation of the composite video stream of thecommon event on a first screen of the communication device; providing agraphical user interface to the communication device, wherein thegraphical user interface is presented by the communication device withthe presentation of the composite video stream of the common event;receiving a first user-generated input from the communication device viathe graphical user interface, wherein the first user-generated inputcomprises a request to adjust the presentation of the common event byproviding a selection of a moving object and a first change in locationof the communication device; receiving a first change in geographiclocation of the communication device, wherein the communication devicedetermines the first change in geographic location by detecting that thecommunication device has moved from a first geographic location to asecond geographic location of the communication device and determiningthat the first geographic location is different than the secondgeographic location; determining the first change in geographic locationindicates a user has moved closer to the moving object resulting in adetermination; adjusting the composite video stream according to theselection of the moving object, the first change in geographic locationto generate a first adjusted composite video stream, wherein theadjusting of the composite video stream comprises rendering the firstadjusted composite video stream to show that the user has a change invirtual location from a first virtual location that corresponds to thefirst geographic location to a second virtual location that correspondsto the second geographic location and magnifying the moving object inresponse to the determination, wherein each image of the first adjustedcomposite video stream includes a magnification of the moving objectwithin the common event; and providing the first adjusted compositevideo stream to the communication device for overlaying a secondpresentation of the first adjusted composite video stream of the commonevent on a second screen of the communication device that includes themagnification of the moving object simultaneously over the firstpresentation of the composite video stream on the first screen of thecommunication device.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: detecting a presentation capability of thecommunication device; determining that a group of the plurality of livevideo streams are from a same perspective of the common event; andselecting one of the group of the plurality of live video streams thatare from the same perspective of the common event according to thepresentation capability of the communication device, wherein theaggregating of the plurality of live video streams comprises aggregatingone of the group of the plurality of live video streams to generate thecomposite video stream for presenting the common event.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the obtaining of the live video stream from each of theplurality of mobile phone devices further comprises: identifying a firstvideo stream from a first mobile phone device of the plurality of mobilephone devices and a second video stream from a second mobile phonedevice of the plurality of mobile phone devices providing a sameperspective of the common event; identifying a first incentive to beprovided to a first user associated with the first mobile phone deviceand identifying a second incentive to be provided to a second userassociated with the second mobile phone device; and selecting the firstvideo stream as one of the plurality of live video streams based on thefirst incentive being advantageous over the second incentive.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the sending of the composite video streamfurther comprises transmitting the composite video stream to a socialmedia server, wherein the social media server shares the composite videostream with a group of communication devices associated with socialmedia members.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical userinterface includes a touchscreen to receive the first user-generatedinput through contact with the touchscreen and a gesture, and whereinthe graphical user interface enables adjustment of viewing of the commonevent.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the operations furthercomprise: receiving second user-generated input from the communicationdevice, wherein the second user-generated input comprises a firstgesture with the touchscreen of the graphical user interface thatindicates magnifying of the moving object on a separate screen, andwherein the second user-generated input comprises a second change inlocation of the communication device.
 7. The system of claim 6, whereinthe providing of the graphical user interface to the communicationdevice further comprises providing a plurality of selectable movingobjects within the common event, and wherein the receiving of the firstuser-generated input from the communication device further comprisesreceiving an indication of the moving object from the plurality ofselectable moving objects within the common event.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the adjusting of the composite video stream accordingto the first user-generated input further comprises: identifying aportion of the plurality of live video streams that shows the movingobject; and aggregating the portion of the plurality of live videostreams to generate the first adjusted composite video stream, whereinthe first adjusted composite video stream provides an adjusted view ofthe moving object.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein operations furthercomprise generating a 360 degree live virtual environment from thecomposite video stream.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sendingthe composite video stream further comprises sending the 360 degree livevirtual environment to a virtual reality user device.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the graphical user interface enables adjustment of aviewing of the common event.
 12. A non-transitory, machine-readablestorage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executedby a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: obtaining a live video stream from each of aplurality of mobile phone devices resulting in a plurality of live videostreams, the plurality of live video streams being associated with acommon event, wherein each mobile phone device of the plurality ofmobile phone devices is camera-enabled; aggregating the plurality oflive video streams to generate a composite video stream for presentingthe common event; sending the composite video stream for a firstpresentation of the composite video stream of the common event to asocial media server, wherein the social media server shares thecomposite video stream with a communication device of social mediamember, wherein the first presentation of the composite video stream ofthe common event is on a first screen of the communication device;providing a graphical user interface to the communication device,wherein the graphical user interface is presented by the communicationdevice with the presentation of the composite video stream of the commonevent; receiving a first user-generated input from the communicationdevice via the graphical user interface, wherein the firstuser-generated input comprises a request to adjust the presentation ofthe common event by providing a selection of a moving object and a firstchange in location of the communication device; receiving a first changein geographic location of the communication device, wherein thecommunication device determines the first change in geographic locationby detecting that the communication device has moved from a firstgeographic location to a second geographic location of the communicationdevice and determining that the first geographic location is differentthan the second geographic location; determining the first change ingeographic location indicates a user has moved closer to the movingobject resulting in a determination; adjusting the composite videostream according to the selection of the moving object, the first changein geographic location, and to magnify the moving object in response tothe determination to generate a first adjusted composite video stream,wherein the adjusting of the composite video stream comprises renderingthe first adjusted composite video stream to show that the user has achange in virtual location from a first virtual location thatcorresponds to the first geographic location to a second virtuallocation that corresponds to the second geographic location andmagnifying the moving object in response to the determination, whereineach image of the first adjusted composite video stream includes amagnification of the moving object within the common event; andproviding the first adjusted composite video stream, via the socialmedia server, to the communication device for overlaying a secondpresentation of the first adjusted composite video stream of the commonevent on a second screen of the communication device that includes themagnification of the moving object simultaneously over the firstpresentation of the composite video stream on the first screen of thecommunication device.
 13. The non-transitory, machine-readable storagemedium of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise: detecting apresentation capability of the communication device; determining that agroup of the plurality of live video streams are from a same perspectiveof the common event; and selecting one of the group of the plurality oflive video streams that are from the same perspective of the commonevent according to the presentation capability of the communicationdevice, wherein the aggregating the plurality of live video streamscomprises aggregating one of the group of the plurality of live videostreams to generate the composite video stream for presenting the commonevent.
 14. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim12, wherein the operations further comprise providing additionalbandwidth to a first mobile phone device based on the first mobile phonedevice providing a first live video stream, wherein the plurality oflive video streams comprises the first live video stream.
 15. Thenon-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein thegraphical user interface includes a touchscreen to receive the firstuser-generated input through contact with the touchscreen and a gesture,and wherein the graphical user interface enables adjustment of viewingof the common event.
 16. The non-transitory, machine-readable storagemedium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise: receivingsecond user-generated input from the communication device, wherein thesecond user-generated input comprises a first gesture with thetouchscreen of the graphical user interface that indicates magnifyingthe moving object on a separate screen, and wherein the seconduser-generated input comprises a second change in location of thecommunication device.
 17. The non-transitory, machine-readable storagemedium of claim 12, wherein the providing of the graphical userinterface to the communication device further comprises providing aplurality of selectable moving objects within the common event, andwherein the receiving of the first user-generated input from thecommunication device further comprises receiving an indication of themoving object from the plurality of selectable moving objects within thecommon event.
 18. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium ofclaim 17, wherein the operations further comprise: identifying a portionof the plurality of live video streams that shows the moving object; andaggregating the portion of the plurality of live video streams togenerate the first adjusted composite video stream, wherein the firstadjusted composite video stream provides an adjusted view of the movingobject.
 19. A method, comprising: obtaining, by a processing systemincluding a processor, a live video stream from each of a plurality ofmobile phone devices resulting in a plurality of live video streams, theplurality of live video streams being associated with a common event,wherein each mobile phone device of the plurality of mobile phonedevices is camera-enabled; aggregating, by the processing system, theplurality of live video streams to generate a composite video stream forpresenting the common event; generating a 360 degree live virtualenvironment from the composite video stream sending, by the processingsystem, the 360 degree live virtual environment of the common event to avirtual reality user device for a first presentation of the 360 degreelive virtual environment of the common event on a first screen of thevirtual reality user device; providing, by the processing system, agraphical user interface to the virtual reality user device, wherein thegraphical user interface is presented by the virtual reality user devicewith the first presentation of the 360 degree live virtual environmentof the common event; receiving, by the processing system, auser-generated input from the virtual reality user device via thegraphical user interface, wherein the user-generated input comprises arequest to adjust the presentation of the common event by providing aselection of a moving object and a first change in location of thevirtual reality user device; receiving, by the processing system, afirst change in geographic location of the virtual reality user device,wherein the virtual reality user device determines the first change ingeographic location by detecting that the virtual reality user devicehas moved from a first geographic location to a second geographiclocation of the virtual reality user device and determining that thefirst geographic location is different than the second geographiclocation; determining, by the processing system, the first change ingeographic location indicates a user has moved closer to the movingobject resulting in a determination; adjusting, by the processingsystem, the 360 degree live virtual environment of the common eventaccording to the selection of the moving object, the first change ingeographic location to generate a first adjusted composite video stream,wherein the adjusting of the composite video stream comprises renderingthe first adjusted composite video stream to show the user has a changein virtual location from a first virtual location that corresponds tothe first geographic location to a second virtual location thatcorresponds to the second geographic location and magnifying the movingobject in response to the determination wherein the first adjustedcomposite video stream comprises an adjusted 360 degree live virtualenvironment of the common event, wherein each image of the adjusted 360degree live virtual environment of the common event includes amagnification of the moving object within the common event; andproviding, by the processing system, the adjusted 360 degree livevirtual environment of the common event to the virtual reality userdevice for overlaying a second presentation of the adjusted 360 degreelive virtual environment of the common event on a second screen of thevirtual reality user device that includes the magnification of themoving object simultaneously over the first presentation of thecomposite video stream on the first screen of the virtual reality userdevice.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sending of the compositevideo stream further comprises transmitting, by the processing system,the composite video stream to a social media server, wherein the socialmedia server shares the composite video stream with a group ofcommunication devices associated with social media members.